Agency Relations

CUMI’s relationship with CRH Department of Psychiatry is of fundamental importance for the delivery of services.

In the cases of drug addiction, clients are attended to within the department. Presently no detoxification programme is available in Montego Bay.

The Rehabilitation programme plan for the homeless mentally ill usually begins with the hospitalization of an acutely ill patient. Assessment, Diagnosis, Medical case file, Prescriptions for Medication, Group and/or Individual Counselling, Occupational Assessment, Family Education and arrangement for follow-up treatment are services typically provided by the hospital and CUMI.

Once discharged from hospital, clients who are in the care of CUMI continue the treatment plan with rehabilitation. Clients with families are discharged in there care, with appointments to attend the psychiatric clinics in the community or within the hospital setting. Often, stabilized patients from CRH are referred to CUMI for continued rehabilitation.

In-patient Department: Provides admission for acutely psychotic clients on recommendation of the staff physician/psychiatrist. In the case of CUMI, clients are re-admitted into the rehabilitation programme once stabilized and discharged from hospital.

Community Psychiatry: The Mental Health Officer’s (MHO) provides mental health care services/ Primary Health Care from the various Clinics and Health Centre’s in the communities.

Poor Relief: (welfare/social benefit department): Provides assistance to the economically poor by way of the PATH (Poverty Alleviation Health and Education) programme and for those eligible contributors through the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

This service comes under the auspices of the Poor Relief Department/ St. James Parish Council. The provision for the St. James Infirmary, which provides housing and care for the elderly also falls under the St. James Parish Council (local government).

Police

The Mental Health Act provides directives for the police to protect persons of unsound mind and accompany them to hospital or make arrangements for a Mental Health Officer to assess the behaviour and condition of such persons if in custody.

The Act also provides for persons who may be of danger to themselves or society to be apprehended by the police and then taken to the appropriate service place of safety. Citizen requests or complaints should be referred to Psychiatric Emergency Maintenance Team at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (P.E.M.T).

St. James Health Department (Type V Health Centre)

The St. James Health Department (Type V Clinic) provides Primary Health Care, Medical Treatment and Referrals to the hospital upon receipt of a Referral Note from CUMI identifying the client. The Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) HIV/AIDS Clinic provides services for assessment and treatment, as well as providing health education and counselling services.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s - related parishes)

Several NGOs collaborate with CUMI in providing community health care. They are listed as follows:

Churches: Burchell Baptist Church and Half Moon Hotel – supports the CUMI feeding programme by providing lunches on various days of the month. St. John Methodist Men’s Fellowship support CUMI with Cash Donation from their Annual Fundraising Event. Light House of Faith International along with other Churches makes sporadic Donations in Gift-In-Kind.

Local Businesses: a number of which support CUMI with pledges in cash andGift-In-Kind.Regular Supporters: HART Group of Companies (Saffack and Cargo Handlers) and Jamaica Money Market Broker’s (JMMB). Mr. R. I. Whitfield and sporadic supporters.

CUMI's Mission Statement

To reach out and advocate for the homeless and other mentally ill persons of Montego Bay (St. James) and within the limits of resources available, attempt to improve their level of physical and mental health as well as their basic quality of life.